Method of and apparatus for making bearings



April 28, 1931. P, KERRUlSH 1,802,723

METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR MAKING BEARINGS Filed Dec. 19. 1928 v I NVEN TOR.

Gi mm @aq A TTORNEYJ Patented Apr. 28, 1931 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICEEDWARD KERlRUISH, OF CLEVELAND HEIGHTS, OHIO, ASSIGNOR TO THE OLEVELANDGRAPHITE BRONZE COMBANY, OF CLEVELAND, OHIO, A CORPORATION OF OHIOMETHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR MAKING BEARINGS Application filed December19, 1928. Serial No. 327,142.-

The present invention, relating, as indicated, to a bearing and methodof making the same is particularly directed to an improved method andapparatus for the formation of flat stock into closed cylindrical shellsfor the manufacture of bearings in which a lining of suitable bearingmetal is then integrally applied to the interior of the shell. Theprincipal object of the invention is the provision of a new and morerapid method and apparatus for forming the flat strips into cylindricalshells while at the same time securing a pressure-tight butt between theadjacent edges or ends of the flat strip.

To the accomplishment of the foregoing and related ends, said invention,then, consists of the means hereinafter fully described and particularlypointed out in the claims; the annexed drawing and-the followingdescription setting forth in detail one method and one productexemplifying my invention, such disclosed procedure and productconstituting, however, but one of various applications of the principlesof my invention.

In said annexed drawing Fig. 1 is a transverse section through diesadapted to carry out the present invention showing the same at thebeginning of the forming operation; Fig. 2 is a similar view, butshowing the dies at the conclusion of the first forming operation; andFig. 3 is a similar view showing semi-cylindrical dies adapted tocomplete the forming operation and the closed cylinder produced therein.

Referring now to Fig. 1,.there are shown complementary dies 1 and 2provided with complementary recesses 3 and 4 therein and with extensions5 and 6 of these recesses adapted to receive therein a flat rectangularstrip 7 of stock to be formed into the shell. The dies 1 and 2 areadapted to cooperate with a plunger 8 shown above the strip 7 and inposition to descend in the direction of the arrows to force the strip 7into the dies 3 and 4. v

In the ordinary methods of forming a fiat strip into a shell the firststep consists in pressing the strip into a recess in the die to form itinto roughly U-shape, after which t is given several subsequentoperations to progressively form the U-shaped blank into a closedcylinder. In the present method a number of these subsequent operationsare,

the dies 1 and 2 may be effected in various ,ways and I have here showntapered plungers 9 and 10 disposed at the opposite ends of the dies 1and 2 and movable downwardly in planes parallel to the plane of movementof the plunger 8. As these members 9 and 10 descend they engage thetapered surfaces 11 and 12 on fixed members 13 and 14 and thus act towedge the dies 1 and 2 inwardly toward each other into the relationwhich is shown in Fig. '2.

The downward movement of the plunger 8. bends the strip 7 intosubstantial U-shape, after which the inward movement of the dies 3 and ireduces the radius, in the bottom of the U, forces the two arms of theU, that is, the two sides of the strip, against the side portions of theplunger 8 and causes the upper ends 15 and 16 of the strip which bendinwardly around the upper surface of the cylindrical plunger 8. 'lhedies1 and 2 are then retracted (by any suitable means, not shown) and as theplunger 8 is raised the partially formed shell may be pushedlongitudinally oil from the plunger and the new strip 7 inserted in therecesses 5 and 6 in the upper surfaces of the dies 1 and 2.

The partially formed strip shown in Fig. 2 is then placed betweencooperative semicylindrical dies 17 and 18 which, upon closing, pressthe partially formed shell into a complete cylinder, forcing the ends 15and 16 into a tight engagement which I have found to be pressure tightand to prevent any leakage of fluid metal when Babbitt or similar.material is subsequently cast into joint is secured by the presentmethod as by any previous method in common use.

Other forms may be employed embodying the features of my inventioninstead of the one here explained, change being made in the form orconstruction, provided the elements stated by any of the followingclaims or the equivalent of such stated elements be employed, whetherproduced by my preferred method or by others embodying steps equivalentto those stated in the following claims.

I therefore particularly point out and distinctly claim as myinvention 1. In a method of forming cylindrical shells from flat stock,the steps which consist in bending a strip of flat stock intosubstantially U-shape between a plunger acting upon one surface of saidstrip and two spaced die members provided with upwardly facingcomplementary curved recesses, and then forcing said last-named diemembers toward each other in a plane at right angles to the line ofmovement of the first-named die member to bend the side walls of thestrip around the first-named die and then closing the Open shell thusformed between two semi-cylindrical complementary dies.

2. In a method of forming cylindrical shells from flat stock, the stepswhich consist in bending a strip of fiat stock into substantiallyU-shape between a plunger acting upon one surface of said strip and twospaced die members provided with upwardly facing complementary curvedrecesses, and simultaneously'forcing said last-named die members towardeach other in a plane at right angles to the line of movement of saidfirstnamed die member to bend the sides of the shell inwardly aroundsaid first-named die member, and then closing said shell betweencomplementary semi-cylindrical dies.

Signed by me, this 12th'day of December,

EDWARD P. KERRUISH.

